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DuPage Republicans promote GOTV event that appears to violate state law
Wednesday, Sep 2, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * The DuPage County Republicans posted this inducement to early vote earlier today… * But there might be an oh-so-slight problem with the Illinois Election Code…
Might’ve been a good idea to call the lawyers first. This is pretty basic stuff.
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- Steve - Wednesday, Sep 2, 26 @ 12:49 pm:
These really aren’t very bright people. So, there’s that.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Sep 2, 26 @ 12:50 pm:
=Might’ve been a good idea to call the lawyers first. This is pretty basic stuff.=
The GOP does not seem tocare about the law anymore.
- CC Jay - Wednesday, Sep 2, 26 @ 12:54 pm:
Serious question…is there a requirement to vote in order to get all of the “goodies”? Or can one show up, hop on the van, refuse to get off to vote, and still collect the food, drink, and appreciation gift?
If they’re not *forcing* you to vote, I think they’ve wandered into a grey, yet technically legal, area.
- oh my - Wednesday, Sep 2, 26 @ 12:54 pm:
Embarrassing for sure, but come on, we all want to know what the “thank you gift” would be.
- I wonder - Wednesday, Sep 2, 26 @ 12:57 pm:
I wonder how the DuPage County States Attorney will respond to this.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 2, 26 @ 12:58 pm:
===If they’re not *forcing* you to vote===
That is nowhere in the statute.
It’s about inducements. And it’s illegal and has been so forever.
- Think Again - Wednesday, Sep 2, 26 @ 12:59 pm:
=Any person who knowingly gives, lends or promises to give or lend any money or other valuable consideration to any other person to influence such other person to vote or to register to vote=
They are offering free rides to the early polling sites - they don’t say anything about requiring riders to actually vote or register.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 2, 26 @ 1:02 pm:
===they don’t say anything about requiring riders===
Again, the word requirement is not in the statute books.
Everybody who has ever been in a campaign knows you can’t offer gifts after a ride to the polls.
- CC Jay - Wednesday, Sep 2, 26 @ 1:05 pm:
===They are offering free rides to the early polling sites - they don’t say anything about requiring riders to actually vote or register.===
Exactly, this has been going on in Suburban Cook County since Early Voting began. Every committeeman, elected, and candidate has been chartering busses and vans and offering this as a veiled “convenience” while simultaneously offering breakfast/lunch, etc…before or after the “free” ride.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Sep 2, 26 @ 1:13 pm:
=Or can one show up, hop on the van, refuse to get off to vote, and still collect the food, drink, and appreciation gift?=
So stay on the van and continue to listen to the candidate that joined the ride along? What fun.
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Sep 2, 26 @ 1:18 pm:
It has Law in the name ot must be legal/S
And please give them a break they are going down in an epic route they should be given a handicap
- Norseman - Wednesday, Sep 2, 26 @ 1:18 pm:
Down south, giving folks a bottle of water while waiting in line is a crime. Food, drink, ride and gift and tying this all into a store selling guns seems more problematic to me.
- localgovhero - Wednesday, Sep 2, 26 @ 1:19 pm:
Lots of thoughts here.
(1) The operative verb here is “to influence such other person to vote.” I am not being paid so I will not look up the case law for what influence here means. But, a van ride to a polling place probably does not influence people to vote. The thank you gift and discount, that may be another story. Especially with candidates being in the van.
(2) Overall, we do not want rides to the polls to be deemed illegal generally. Voter accessibility it a progressive virtue. Not going to ding the DuPage Republicans for the ride. Will ding everything else though.
(3)Folks who comment on capitolfax opining on legal theories ought to be required to produce their bar card.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Wednesday, Sep 2, 26 @ 1:25 pm:
I’m curious as to which candidates have signed up to ride along and take questions?
- old man poodle owner - Wednesday, Sep 2, 26 @ 1:29 pm:
So its ok for the Champaign County clerk to give those who are standing in campus voting lines, pizza and water, but its not ok to offer rides. All while wearing his Aaron Ammons County Clerk shirt.
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Sep 2, 26 @ 1:36 pm:
- So its ok for the Champaign County clerk to give those who are standing in campus voting lines, pizza and water, but its not ok to offer rides. -
Said no one. Try comprehending the words you read.